Brentford will prioritise a striker in the summer transfer window, Dean Smith has confirmed.

The Bees only have Lasse Vibe and Philipp Hofmann as their experienced options, with B team player Justin Shaibu backing the pair up.

The west Londoners saw Scott Hogan leave in January for a club record fee as the former Rochdale man joined Aston Villa.

Smith confirmed: “The priority would be a striker. We've got Lasse Vibe and Philipp Hofmann at the moment.

“Lasse has been on fire at the moment and long may that continue. We need someone else to go and challenge there.”

Much like other clubs, Brentford would like to do their transfer business early in the summer but it doesn't tend to work like that and Smith knows patience is a virtue.

Lasse Vibe makes it 2-0 (Image: Paul Burgman/Press-Photos.com)

“We're working with Andy Scott and the directors of football having weekly meetings to get the right players in,” the head coach said.

“You have to be patient unless you're paying fees, contracts don't run out until June 30.

“There is also a lot of groundwork you can do now to get the right personalities that they fit with the style of play and the culture of football club.”

It's easier to work out whether a player will fit into a club's style of play but the Bees also do their due diligence on the person ahead of signing them.

Dean Smith (Image: Get West London)

Smith explained: “There are a number of ways (to do this). All our players; most have been at other clubs.

“They all talk to other clubs and players. I've got friends at other clubs and you go and speak to them and find out people who have played with them and coached them. There's a lot of work that goes into it.”

Away from the transfer front, Brentford already have plans in place for pre-season training.

Smith said: “Pre-season is pretty much planned already. We have an idea of what we're doing, where we're going. The training schedule is all done. You have to plan ahead in this game.”